Jack Turner, 10 and his mother Karen Turner build a snowman against a tree in Wooster Square Park, Thursday, March 8, 2018, following the nor’easter. The Turners are visiting from Northern Ireland for a few months. less

Jack Turner, 10 and his mother Karen Turner build a snowman against a tree in Wooster Square Park, Thursday, March 8, 2018, following the nor’easter. The Turners are visiting from Northern Ireland for a few ... more

Photo: Catherine Avalone, Hearst Connecticut Media

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A man makes his way across the New Haven Green during the noreaster, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, a winter storm predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

A man makes his way across the New Haven Green during the noreaster, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, a winter storm predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A man riding a bicycle in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the nor’easter predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

A man riding a bicycle in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the nor’easter predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

Photo: Catherine Avalone, Hearst Connecticut Media

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A woman pushes a child in a stroller across at the intersection of Church and Chapel Street in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the noreaster predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area. less

A woman pushes a child in a stroller across at the intersection of Church and Chapel Street in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the noreaster predicted to bring four to eight inches of ... more

Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A man walks on Church Street in New Haven during the noreaster, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, a winter storm predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

A man walks on Church Street in New Haven during the noreaster, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, a winter storm predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A man makes his way across the New Haven Green during the noreaster, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, a winter storm predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

A man makes his way across the New Haven Green during the noreaster, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, a winter storm predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the New Haven area.

Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A large limb from a pine tree lies across the front yard of a home on Kimberly Ave. in East Haven on March 9, 2018.

A large limb from a pine tree lies across the front yard of a home on Kimberly Ave. in East Haven on March 9, 2018.

Photo: Arnold Gold, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Cut up sections of a tree remain by the side of the road on Liberty St. in Madison on March 9, 2018.

Cut up sections of a tree remain by the side of the road on Liberty St. in Madison on March 9, 2018.

Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

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The calm before the projected storm at the Ansonia Nature Center

The calm before the projected storm at the Ansonia Nature Center

Photo: Viktoria Sundqvist / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Jack Turner, 10 and his mother Karen Turner built a snowman named Wally against a tree in Wooster Square Park, Thursday, March 8, 2018, following the nor’easter. The Turners are visiting from Northern Ireland for a few months. less

Jack Turner, 10 and his mother Karen Turner built a snowman named Wally against a tree in Wooster Square Park, Thursday, March 8, 2018, following the nor’easter. The Turners are visiting from Northern Ireland ... more

Photo: Catherine Avalone, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Kathryn Blair, a graduate student at Yale University, from Utah, clears now off her windshield of her SUV in Wooster Square, Thursday, March 8, 2018, following the nor’easter. Blair said the residents living on her side of Wooster Square lost power at about 7 p.m. and it returned around 3 a.m. less

Kathryn Blair, a graduate student at Yale University, from Utah, clears now off her windshield of her SUV in Wooster Square, Thursday, March 8, 2018, following the nor’easter. Blair said the residents living ... more

Photo: Catherine Avalone, Hearst Connecticut Media

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Elm Street in New Haven is covered by the thinest dusting of snow Wednesday morning.

Elm Street in New Haven is covered by the thinest dusting of snow Wednesday morning.

Photo: By Jessica Lerner

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Frontier Communications crews work on Marvelwood Drive in New Haven Friday to restore service.

Frontier Communications crews work on Marvelwood Drive in New Haven Friday to restore service.

Photo: William Kaempffer / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Scenes around the East Rock neighborhood and State Street In New Haven as snow fell Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

Scenes around the East Rock neighborhood and State Street In New Haven as snow fell Wednesday, March 7, 2018.

Photo: Derek Turner / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A large limb from a pine tree lies across the front yard of a home on Kimberly Ave. in East Haven on March 9, 2018.

A large limb from a pine tree lies across the front yard of a home on Kimberly Ave. in East Haven on March 9, 2018.

Photo: Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media

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And so it begins. It's 4:15 a.m. in New Haven. We have just flurries so far sticking to the grass but not the road. Stay safe.

And so it begins. It's 4:15 a.m. in New Haven. We have just flurries so far sticking to the grass but not the road. Stay safe.

Photo: William Kaempffer / Hearst Connecticut Media

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A woman wearing headphones doesn't seem fazed by the weather in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the noreaster predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the area.

A woman wearing headphones doesn't seem fazed by the weather in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the noreaster predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the area.

Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Light snow in New Haven's Westville neighborhood

Light snow in New Haven's Westville neighborhood

Photo: William Kaempffer / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Elm Street in New Haven is covered by the thinest dusting of snow Wednesday morning.

Elm Street in New Haven is covered by the thinest dusting of snow Wednesday morning.

Photo: By Jessica Lerner

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A woman wearing headphones doesn't seem fazed by the weather in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the noreaster predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the area.

A woman wearing headphones doesn't seem fazed by the weather in downtown New Haven, Wednesday, March 7, 2018, during the noreaster predicted to bring four to eight inches of snow in the area.

Photo: Catherine Avalone / Hearst Connecticut Media

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Storm updates: Thousands without power, wires down

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Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced a highway ban on tractor trailers Wednesday after a day of snowfall created poor visibility and slippery driving conditions.

Malloy said the request was done in partnership with New York State, which was experiencing poorer highway conditions than Connecticut, to prevent stopped trucks on the highways in Fairfield County.

He said residents could expect between 4 and 16 inches of snow, depending on where they live in the state.

Malloy said he expects state functions to operate as normal starting Thursday morning.

Moments before the 6 p.m. press briefing, he said a tree was knocked down on the Merritt Parkway near Norwalk, blocking traffic.

New Haven Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director Rick Fontana said snow was sticking because it was coming down heavily, but the warm ground temperatures meant it is unlikely for there to be ice Thursday.

“We’ll see some pavement tommorow,” he said Wednesday evening.

He said around 7 p.m. that New Haven had seen about four inches, and it might see another four by midnight.

Fontana said the city set its protocol on Tuesday and stuck to it. He said there were numerous downed wires because of heavy snow and winds.

Heavier snowfall arrived a bit later than expected, Fontana said.

Morning flurries gave way to heavy, wet snowshowers.

Malloy partially activated the state’s Emergency Operations Center to monitor storm conditions across the state and prepare for winter weather that is forecast to have a significant impact travel, according to a press release.

“We continue to monitor this weather pattern very closely and will have essential personnel at the state’s Emergency Operations Center to better coordinate rapid response to any problems that may arise,” Malloy stated. “We are urging residents to plan ahead and exercise caution if they need to travel — we anticipate rough afternoon conditions as the heaviest of the snow is anticipated to impact the state during the afternoon through the evening.”

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The National Weather Service stated a winter storm warning for the Greater New Haven area is in effect until 4 a.m. today. Heavy snow is expected, with new snow accumulations from four to eight inches, according to the NWS.

Metro-North was operating on a reduced weekday schedule with some combined/canceled trains during the “AM and PM Peak.” “Customers should anticipate delays due to the effects of the winter storm throughout our service territory,” MTA stated on its website. “Please travel only if necessary.”

At Bradley International Airport, approximately 55 percent of Wednesday’s arriving and departing flights had been canceled and there are a small number of delays, Alisa D. Sisic, airport spokeswoman, said.

Passengers who are scheduled to travel Wednesday are advised to check with their airline on their individual flight itineraries and any potential rebooking options before heading to the airport. Several airlines are issuing travel waivers, according to a press release.

Fontana said New Haven partially actives the Emergency Operations Center at 10 a.m. Two parking bans — one downtown and the other in residential areas — have been declared for emergency purposes, with both beginning at 12 p.m. Wednesday. The downtown parking ban ends 12 p.m. Friday and the residential one ends 8 a.m. Friday, he said.

Downtown work will be focused on getting the sidewalks and streets cleared for the Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday, Fontana said.

"Obviously, the wind has kicked up," Schwartz said. "We're going to have some flooding down on the shoreline, but nothing that's above normal."

Hamden designated all fire stations and the front foyer of the town’s police station as 24-hour warming stations.

Mayor Curt Leng is asking all residents to stay off the roads.

“All Hamden residents should stay off the roads, effective immediately,” he said in an email. “There are trees and power lines down all over (town) due to the storm and United Illuminating has not yet sent their make safe crews yet to cut the power. We’re trying to get them to town ASAP. Please use extreme caution.”

The Hamden Facebook page says there are “at least 15 wires down” as of 9:30 p.m. and emergency vehicles are getting stuck.